The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-06-02
Dick started, rose, and came somewhat un-
steadily toward him

Dick started, rose, and came somewhat un-
steadily toward him.
'Whar's the boysp said the Old Man
"Gone up the canyon on little pasear.
They're coming back for me in a mint I'm
waitin round for 'em. What are you starin'
at, Old Mana" he added with forced laugh;
"do you think I'm drunksn
The Old Man might have been pardoned the
supposition, for Dicks eyes were humid and
his face flushed. He loitered and lounged
back TO the chimney: yawned, shook himself,
buttoned up his coat and laughed. "Liquor
amt so plenty as that, Old Man. Now don't
you git up,n he continued, as the Old Man
made movement to release bis sleeve from
Johnny's hand "Don't you mind manners.
Sit jest where you be; I'm goin' in a jiffy.
Thar that's them now"
There was a low tap at the door. Dick
Bullen opened it quickly, nodded "Good
night" to his host, and disappeared The
Old Man would have followed him but for
the hand that still unconsciously grasped his
sleeve. He could have easily disengaged it.
it was SMALL weak and emaciated. But per-
haps because it sGds small, weak and ems-
ciated he changed his mind, and, drawing
his chair closer to the bed, rested his head
Apon it. In this defenseless attitude the DO
sency of his earlier potations surprised him.
The room fickered and faded before his eyes,
reappeared, faded again, went out, and left
| him-asleep.
Meantime Dick Bullen, closing the door,
confronted bis companions. "Are you
readyW said Staples. "Ready," said Dick;
"whats the timea" "Past 12,n was the
reply; acan you make ita-it's nigh on fifty
miles, the round trip hither and yon" II
reckon" returned Dick, shortly. "Whar's
the marea" aBilI and Jacks holdin' her at
the crossin'." "Les 'em hold on a mint
longer" said Dick
| He turned and re-entered the house softly.
By the light of the guttering candle and dy-
ing fire he saw that the door of the little
room was open. He stepped toward it on
tiptoe and looked in. The Old Man had
fallen back ia his chair, snoring, his helpless
feet thrust out in a nne with his collapsed
shoulders, and his hat pulled down over his
.yes. Beside him, on narrow wooden bed
sGead, lay Johnny, mufiled tightly in a
blanket that hid all save strip of forehead
and a few curls damp with perspiration.
Bullen made step forward, hesitated, and
glanced over his shoulder into the deserted
room. Everything was quiet. With sud-
den resolution he parted his huge mustaches
with both hands and stopped over the sleep
ing boy. But even as he did so a mischievous
blast, lying in wait, swooped down the chin
ney, rekindled the hearth, and lit up the
room with shameless glow from which Dick
fled in bashful terror.
His companions were already waiting for
him at the crossing. Two of them were
struggling in the darkness with some strange
misshapen bulk, which as Dick came nearer
took the semblance of great yellow
horse.
1t was the mare She was not a pretty
picture. From her Roman nose to her rising
launches, from her arched spine hidden by
the stiff machillas of Mexican saddle, to
her thick straight, bony legs, there was moi
a line of equine grace In her half blind but
wholly vicious white eyes, i'll her protruding
under lip, in her monstrous color, there was
nothing but ugliness and vice,
"Now, them said Staples, stand clar Of
her heels, boys, and up with you. Donr
miss your first holt of her name, and mind "
get your off stirrup quick Ready"
There was leap, a scrambling struggle, &
bound, wild retreat of the crowd, circl,
of flying hoofs, two springless leaps tha
Jared the earth, a rapid play and jingle o
spurs, plunge, and then the voice o
Dick somewhere in the darkness, "Al
rightl'
"Don't take the lower road back onles
you're hard pushed for timel Don't hold he
in down hill Well be at the ford at 8
G'langl Hoopal Mulal Col"
A splash, a spark struck from the ledge il
the road, clatter in the rocky cut beyond
and Dick was gone,
Sing, o Muse, the ride of Richard Bullen
Sing, o Muse, of chivalrous menl the sacre,
quest, the doughty deeds, the battery of lov
ehurls the fearsome ride and grewsome peril
of the flower of Simpsons Bari Alackl sh
, is dainty, this Muse She will have none o
this bucking brute and staggering, ragge
: rider and l must fain follow him in prose
afootl
1t was l o'clock, and yet he had only game
) Rattlesnake hill. For in that time Jovit
had rehearsed to him all her fmperfection
and practised all her vices. Thrice had sh
, stumbled Twice had she thrown up he
' Roman nose in a straight line with the reins
, and, resisting bit and spur, struck out madl
= across country. Twice had she reared, and
, rearing, fallen backward; and twice had th
agile Dick, unharmed, regained his seat befor
, she found her vicious legs again. And mil
, beyond them, at the foot of long hill, wa
Rattlesnake creek. Dick knew that here wa
g the crucial test of his ability to perform hi
enterprise, set his teeth grimly, put his knee
. well into her fanks, and changed his d.
fensive tactics to brisk aggression. Bullie
] and maddened, Jovita began the descent c
+ the hill Here the artful Richard pretende
y to hold her in with ostentatious objurgatio
n and well-feigned cries of alarm. 1t is III
necessary to add that Jovita instantly ra
away, nor need 1 state the time made in til
q descent; it is written in the chronicle
q OF simpsons bar. Enougn that
7 another moment, as it seemed to Dicl
she was splashing on the overhowed banl
. of Rattlesnake creek. As Dick expected, til
momentum she had acquired carried her b.
q yond the point of baking, and, holding he
r well together for mighty leap, they dashe
A into the middle of the swiftly flowing GU
D rent. A few moments of kicking, wadin,
4 and swimming, and Dick drew long breat
i on the opposite bank.
. The road from Rattlesnake creek to Re
mountain was tolerably level Either IL
4 plunge in Rattlesnake creek had dampene
f her baleful fire, or the art which led to it ha
4 shown her the superior wickedness of b,
4 rider, for Jovita no longer wasted her su
A plus energy in wanton conceits. Once 81
a bucked, but it was from force of habit; on,
N she SHE'D, but it was from a new, fresh
, painted meeting house at the crossing of Il
% country road. Hollows, bitches, grave
o. deposits. patches of freshly springing grasse
flew from beneath her rattling hoofs. 81
began to smell unpleasantly, once or twi
8 8 ) d Il e.